No Doubt's "Tragic Kingdom" Is 25 Today

 Although we may still think of albums realeased in the 60s, 70s, and even 80s, as classic, we tend to forget the rock scene of the 90s, from the birth of grunge, to the alternative scene featuring bands such as Oasis, The Offspring, and Everclear. 

But one of the bands that has stood the test of time and defied the 90s rock sound was Orange County's No Doubt. Today marks the 25th anniversary of the release of their commercial breakthrough, Tragic Kingdom.

It wasn't their debut

Many may not realize it, but No Doubt's Tragic Kingdom album was not their debut. In fact, the band released their self-titled debut in 1992 through then new-formed Interscope Records, but it was largely shunned. It defied the grunge sound and featured a unique pop sound. Even the sole single, Trapped in a Box, did not get them much attention and the LP as a whole sold 30,000 copies. No Doubt chose to issue their next album, The Beacon Street Collection on their own, Beacon Records, label. The album was recorded in the garage of bass player Tony Kanal's parents' house on...you guessed it, Beacon Avenue in Anaheim. 

Still a Game Changer
Tragic Kingdom sold about 16 million copies  worldwide and was supported by a massive world tour. The album yielded seven singles - many of which have become No Doubt's popular songs. Many of the themes explored throughout the record are taken from Gwen Stefani's life experiences, in particular her recent breakup with bass player Tony Kanal. 

The overall sound of the album is interesting, too. Ska, ska punk, and punk rock are combined well and such influences can be heard on tracks such as Spiderwebs and Sunday Morning. Accrding to guitarist Tom Dumont, the change in sound is the result of Gwen Stefani writing most of the material herself. Her older brother, keyboardist Eric Stefani, wrote the previous two albums. In my opinion the album sounds a lot like late 70s/early 80s New Wave/punk a la Blondie, The Cars, and the Ramones. 

Just a Girl was the album's lead single. It became a top 10 rock hit and is written about Stefani's exasperation on female stereotypes. The track also expresses Stefani's feelings of her father's concerns for her driving home late at night. Stefani described it as the "polar opposite of Girls Just Want to Have Fun. Spiderwebs was the second single featuring Stephen Perkins of Jane's Addiction fame on steel drums. The track's theme is on stalling (and the chorus would make a great answering machine message, maybe a meme :-)). Spiderwebs was top 40 hit in Canada, New Zealand, Sweden, and the UK.

The third single, and possibly their signature song, Don't Speak was a #1 hit for 16 consecutive weeks, which was a record that Goo Goo Dolls broke in 1998 with Iris. The theme of the track is Stefani's breakup with Tony Kanal. Other singles that charted were Excuse Me Mr., Sunday Morning, and Hey You. Of these last three, only Sunday Morning charted #18 on the Bilboard Rock chart.

It's a great album

Despite losing to Sheryl Crow at the 39th Annual Grammys, The Tragic Kingdom is an extraordinary album. Packed with late 70s/early 80s new wave punk/ska influences, it is most definitely worth a listen. Perhaps some of the songs like Just a Girl, Don't Speak, Spiderwebs, and Sunday Morning will become classic rock radio favorites in the next decade.





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